less=more

website

footprints

Sunday, January 10, 2010

"Now as l was yound and easyunder the apple boughs.About the lilting house and happyas the grass was green."-dylan thomas

I built a fort...We moved coast to coast a few months ago, Port Alberni, bcto Bear River East, ns. When l arrived l built a fort.

Choppity chop goes the axe in the woodsYou gotta meet me by the fall down tree-tom waits

As a kid l built forts, l loved it, a home away from home,a shelter, a place to sit, a place to imagine. Grade sixwas my most prolific year. Maybe it was because ofthe neighbor's kids, a brother and sister, Kerry andHolly. A sacred trio, we explored the forest together, weexplored each other. Sometimes Holly and l would laytogether, flesh to flesh on the forest floor, our pants downaround our knees, lay there silent while Kerry choppedtrees in the background When our little bums got cold wewould get up and continue our fort building.

There are unknown forces in nature;when we give ourselves wholly to herwithout reserve, she lends them to us;she shows us these forms, which ourwatching eyes do not see, which ourintelligence does not understand or suspect.-rodin

Our best fort was a hut, the up turned roots of a giant fallentree, it had hallowed the ground and we built a roof, youhad to crawl to get inside, like a igloo. We found old bottlesand jars in the forest, some still had liquids and cremes inthem, we a built a shelf and placed them there like trophieson the mantel. We had a old rusty canning pot that we putrusty springs inside and covered with moss.It was like Robinson Crusoe, like Journey to the Center of theEarth, like The Lost World, like The Wind in the Willows.It made me.

A person is so far formed by his surrounding, thathis state of harmony depends entirely on hisharmony with his surroundings.-the timeless way of building

...his fort was the bush

...i don't know where his fort was, but he was so happy,he was so nice, l don't think he needed a fort.He was a fort.

I am going to leave you with a little music...I bought an old record player and l visit a second hand storeto buy records. It's like going to the doctor, such a personalthing to buy records. Sometime l'm embarrassed by whatl buy, but it's a secret between me and the store owner. But,l found a treasure, a 1972 tribute to woody guthrie. It hasrichie havens, odetta, pete seger, peter fonda and more.

This post never ends.I have a lovehate relationship with artist trading cards but lhave suggested to the lovely sandra at New Times Arrivedthat we exchange artistic post cards.My friend Dale in victoria collects atc's, he has over twothousand now, and he also sends out calls for mail arthe's a real nice guy, so send him some art, or if you want toexchange visual matter with me, my address;1119 mary jane riley rd, rr#1bear river east, nova scotia, B0S 1B0goodbye now

So ... I was just taking about you....5 minutes ago! Telling my parents about your work (they are visiting from Ottawa), and that you live in B.C. with your family.....then I come here and you've moved...lol! I love Nova Scotia..... from one beautiful end of the country to another! I never built a fort but I'd like to!!Love your work....btw!Love Woodie Guthrie.... he's inspired so many!!

Ha,Ken ma man is back and how Im glad to see the fort especially the one under the snow.It is one great fort,I did it too when I was a child (with my panty's on) :o) and Im afraid my way of building remained in the same spirit which is marking my whole being,making me not popular by "grownups" and people who like the "minimalism" in space.Im more like Gaudi,it is never ending story of pieces and shapes finding each-other in the process with in harmony known only by me and Robinson.My neighbours are not that happy with my style so I have to look for other place to live.And thank you dearly for mentioning my blog,it is fine to see it here,means a lot to me.And if you do not get me going on creating to be able sending any art of mine donno who will,so it will take a little more time, till than stay safe,warm and happy(hug for your baby-boy and your lady),cheers!Sandra

What a lovely surprise to see your post... missing your posts lots... hmmmmm, never really build a fort as a child unless building tree houses or caves out of sticks and stones (in Israel) count... forts of sorts, i s'ppose:)

It´s strange: from time to time I wonder when Ken is going to post, missing the pleasure of going through your posts, a deep and little painful pleasure. And from time to time, you post these great conjuctions of words, worlds, images, sounds. I won´t "comment", don´t want to try to "unroll" the commotion, it´s not needed either, I guess.

I believe very strongly that one can not separate from their surroundings and one's surroundings extends outside-- beyond the walls we enclose ourselves in. Love the fort- both physical and metaphorical. I went to newtimesarrived and loved that blog as well. and I may actually send you something-- are you familiar with Ray Johnson? seen HOW TO DRAW A BUNNY?I have two books of his life and work.donna

Oh so happy with your new post, always looking forward to. And again it moves all forgotten strings in an intense way.

Once i builded a fort under the ground and ofcourse in trees. I had one (huge) problem though; i'm afraid of spiders,lol. And today i still build forts. In my head. When i can't sleep i build a fort in my head and it won't take long till dreamland takes over.

I love your world, very, very much; it all fits so perfectly well, the photographs, words, music. And your art is stunning!

Sweet greetz for you and ofcourse your lovely family. Enjoy your fort and lots of happiness!

I love your art and enjoyed your blog..it's like a newly discovered book I can't put down. (I've already been back here several times today!..lol) Haunting, with harsh realities..yet, there's so much more.I'm still pondering all the things I've seen here..I shall return!